Part 1/3 Arthur plopped down on the couch and let out a long-winded sigh. “Gwen, relax,” Arthur said, flicking through TV channels aimlessly. He settled his feet on the coffee table. Gwen abruptly stopped the mixer she was using to make cookie dough and put her hands on her hips and shot the back of Arthur’s head a look of pure, unadulterated anger. Arthur noted the silence and peered over his shoulder and met Gwen’s unflinching gaze. She said nothing, just scowled. “It’s just my family, Gwen. You’re going crazy over nothing.” “Nothing, huh?” she seethed, throwing down the towel she had been clenching in her hands. “I didn’t mean that-it’s just my dad. And my sister. It’s just Christmas dinner.” “They both hate me.” “They don’t hate you-” “When you first introduced me to your father at that charity event, he asked if I pulled my dress out of a dumpster. And your sister asked if I was the bathroom attendant.” “I know and I’m sorry but-” “I’m trying to impress them, Arthur. I don’t know why but I want them to like me,” she said quietly, turning her gaze to the window. She bit her lip and turned away from him. Arthur turned the TV off and sat in silence, trying to figure out the exact right words he wanted to say to Gwen but failed. She was right. His family had been nothing but awful to her and as much as he pleaded with them, they didn’t change. They made no effort in making Gwen feel welcome. “You know what, I’m done. I give up. You’re not even bothering to help me. You get to sit back and watch Elf while I get to prepare dinner for people who’d rather see my head on a pike? No. I’m done. Why should I do all this when I’m sure all I’ll get is curt nods and icy stares?” Gwen announced. She picked up her coat and her keys. “Gwen, come on. Where are you going?” Arthur asked, standing up. He heard the door slam in reply. ________________
“Arthur, it’s technically Christmas. Why on earth are you calling me at 1 am?” Merlin said groggily, evident that he’d been sleeping moments before. “She walked out on me.” “What? Why?” Merlin asked eagerly, suddenly completely awake. “Because my family is coming over tomorrow and she freaked out and just left.” “Rightfully so.” “I don’t know what to do,” Arthur said quietly, voice breaking. “Did you try calling her?” “I’ve tried a million times. And it keeps going to voice mail.” “Do you know where she went?” “I don’t know, Merlin! She probably bought a one-way ticket out of this city so she’ll never have to deal with my stupid family again,” Arthur sneered, frustrated. “She wouldn’t do that, you know that.” “I know. She was trying so hard. She bought all these fancy decorations and she’s been cooking up a storm for these past few days,” Arthur mumbled. “She has no family, Arthur. You’re all she has. And she wants to feel like she’s part of your family. That’s why she’s doing all of this.” “It’s not worth it. I’m not worth it.” “You two were made for each other, don’t say that.” “She made me a better man, but what have I given her? A bitter family, hell-bent on making her miserable?” “You gave her your heart, Arthur.” Arthur sat on the other end of the phone in silence, amazed at his friend’s insightfulness. “Shut up, Merlin.”
When Gwen finally reached her apartment, she threw herself on her bed. Her room was a mess, completely neglected in her efforts to impress Arthur’s family. She was so utterly exhausted from running around this past week and it finally caught up with her. She pulled out her phone. “When did I become that person who needs people to like her?” “Hi, Gwen,” Merlin replied. “I thought you’d be sleeping?” “Well-” “Oh. He called you, didn’t he?” “Yeah.” “Well, I’m done, Merlin. I need to stop worrying about Arthur’s family and start worrying about myself.” “I agree.” “Arthur has done absolutely nothing to help me. He’s been utterly unsupportive. All he’s done is call me crazy and roll his eyes. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t care if people don’t like him. But for some stupid idiotic reason, I do,” she sighed. “Without the acceptance of Arthur’s family, your relationship with him doesn’t feel complete. You want them to see you’re worthy of being with him. Your relationship with Arthur can never go forward without their blessing.” Gwen was quiet for a few moments. “Gwen? Are you still there?” “When did you get so smart, Merlin?” Gwen asked with a chuckle. “I’ve always been smart, you’ve just failed to notice it until now,” Merlin laughed. “Thanks for everything, Merlin. Really. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Merry Christmas.” _________________________
Gwen startled awake. Someone shuffled in her kitchen. She glanced at her clock. It was almost past noon. She groaned and was ready to tell Merlin to stop worrying about her and get back to his mother’s house when she saw Arthur’s back hunched over her stove. “What are you doing here?” Gwen asked sternly. Arthur turned, spatula at hand. He tried to read Gwen’s face, but couldn’t. “I’m making pancakes,” he said quietly. Gwen was about to make a grand retort but stopped short. She looked around her apartment. First off, it was clean. When Gwen came into her apartment last night, a tall stack of dishes was taunting her in the sink. Her clothes were strewn across the floor. Her table was a clutter of paperwork. But now, everything was spotless. Secondly, it was decorated beautifully. There were lights outlining every window. A grand tree stood proudly in the corner, glittering ornaments hanging artfully from each branch. Her counters were covered in trays of homemade cookies. She was so in awe that she had to sit down just to take it all in. “Did you do all this?” she asked, eyes glistening with wonder. He nodded. “Why?” “Because I love you. And I want to make it up to you.” “You don’t have to-” “Yes, I do. And this Christmas, it’s just going to me and you, okay? I told my father and sister to do their own thing because if they can’t accept you into our family, then screw them. You are just as much my family as they are, even more so,” he exclaimed, taking a tentative step towards her. Gwen looked down at her hands, unable to meet Arthur’s eager gaze. “And for once, let me do something for you. You always do everything for everyone. You’re just too damn selfless all the time, Guinevere,” he laughed softly, reaching for her hands. “I can’t come between you and your family. You should choose them over me.”He rubbed his thumb lightly over the back of her warm hand and was about to reassure her when someone knocked on Gwen’s door. Gwen’s brow furrowed. She wasn’t expecting any company. She opened the door and stopped dead in her tracks.
“Hello,” a booming voice said from the doorway. “Dad?” Arthur asked, peering over Gwen’s shoulder. “Come in, Mr. Pendragon. Morgana,” Gwen said meekly, inwardly cursing herself for choosing to wear her ratty, paint splattered sweatpants to bed. “What are you doing here?” Arthur questioned, just as confused as Gwen. “Well, Merlin may have called me and informed me of some things,” Morgana said, taking off her wool pea coat and cashmere scarf. “These are for you, Gwen,” Uther said slightly distractedly, handing her a vase full of flowers. His eyes were scanning Gwen’s apartment from top to bottom. “Oh my, they’re absolutely beautiful. Thank you,” Gwen whispered, in complete and utter shock. “Merlin told me all the trouble you’ve been going through the past week in preparing dinner for us. Thank you,” Morgana said earnestly, putting her hand on Gwen’s shoulder. “It’s a bit small in here, isn’t it?” Uther said, settling himself on the couch. “Dad!” Arthur chided. “It’s cozy, I mean,” Uther blurted. “Why does it smell like burnt pancakes in here?” Morgana said with her nose scrunched up. “Oh, shit! The stove! The pancakes! ” Arthur cried as he ran into the kitchen. Gwen smiled. They were trying. The Pendragons were attempting to be nice to her. And that meant the world to her.
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“That wasn’t a disaster,” Arthur said, stroking Gwen’s back. They were lying in Gwen’s bed, Christmas duties finally over. They both were on their sides facing one another, their faces outlined by the Christmas lights around the windows. “You were fantastic, Arthur. Thank you,” Gwen smiled, kissing him on the tip of his nose. He slid his hands down to her waist and pulled her closer to him. “You too. But you’re always fantastic.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I guess we have Merlin to thank for today’s events. We owe him. Big time,” she replied, nuzzling his neck. “Yeah. We’ll give him a fruitcake,” he laughed, kissing her forehead. He snaked his warm hands up her torso. “Merry Christmas, Arthur,” she whispered into his ear. “Merry Christmas, Guinevere,” he whispered against her lips.
Part 1/3
Arthur plopped down on the couch and let out a long-winded sigh.
“Gwen, relax,” Arthur said, flicking through TV channels aimlessly. He settled his feet on the coffee table.
Gwen abruptly stopped the mixer she was using to make cookie dough and put her hands on her hips and shot the back of Arthur’s head a look of pure, unadulterated anger. Arthur noted the silence and peered over his shoulder and met Gwen’s unflinching gaze. She said nothing, just scowled.
“It’s just my family, Gwen. You’re going crazy over nothing.”
“Nothing, huh?” she seethed, throwing down the towel she had been clenching in her hands.
“I didn’t mean that-it’s just my dad. And my sister. It’s just Christmas dinner.”
“They both hate me.”
“They don’t hate you-”
“When you first introduced me to your father at that charity event, he asked if I pulled my dress out of a dumpster. And your sister asked if I was the bathroom attendant.”
“I know and I’m sorry but-”
“I’m trying to impress them, Arthur. I don’t know why but I want them to like me,” she said quietly, turning her gaze to the window. She bit her lip and turned away from him.
Arthur turned the TV off and sat in silence, trying to figure out the exact right words he wanted to say to Gwen but failed. She was right. His family had been nothing but awful to her and as much as he pleaded with them, they didn’t change. They made no effort in making Gwen feel welcome.
“You know what, I’m done. I give up. You’re not even bothering to help me. You get to sit back and watch Elf while I get to prepare dinner for people who’d rather see my head on a pike? No. I’m done. Why should I do all this when I’m sure all I’ll get is curt nods and icy stares?” Gwen announced. She picked up her coat and her keys.
“Gwen, come on. Where are you going?” Arthur asked, standing up. He heard the door slam in reply.
________________
“Arthur, it’s technically Christmas. Why on earth are you calling me at 1 am?” Merlin said groggily, evident that he’d been sleeping moments before.
“She walked out on me.”
“What? Why?” Merlin asked eagerly, suddenly completely awake.
“Because my family is coming over tomorrow and she freaked out and just left.”
“Rightfully so.”
“I don’t know what to do,” Arthur said quietly, voice breaking.
“Did you try calling her?”
“I’ve tried a million times. And it keeps going to voice mail.”
“Do you know where she went?”
“I don’t know, Merlin! She probably bought a one-way ticket out of this city so she’ll never have to deal with my stupid family again,” Arthur sneered, frustrated.
“She wouldn’t do that, you know that.”
“I know. She was trying so hard. She bought all these fancy decorations and she’s been cooking up a storm for these past few days,” Arthur mumbled.
“She has no family, Arthur. You’re all she has. And she wants to feel like she’s part of your family. That’s why she’s doing all of this.”
“It’s not worth it. I’m not worth it.”
“You two were made for each other, don’t say that.”
“She made me a better man, but what have I given her? A bitter family, hell-bent on making her miserable?”
“You gave her your heart, Arthur.”
Arthur sat on the other end of the phone in silence, amazed at his friend’s insightfulness.
“Shut up, Merlin.”
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When Gwen finally reached her apartment, she threw herself on her bed. Her room was a mess, completely neglected in her efforts to impress Arthur’s family. She was so utterly exhausted from running around this past week and it finally caught up with her. She pulled out her phone.
“When did I become that person who needs people to like her?”
“Hi, Gwen,” Merlin replied.
“I thought you’d be sleeping?”
“Well-”
“Oh. He called you, didn’t he?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, I’m done, Merlin. I need to stop worrying about Arthur’s family and start worrying about myself.”
“I agree.”
“Arthur has done absolutely nothing to help me. He’s been utterly unsupportive. All he’s done is call me crazy and roll his eyes. He just doesn’t get it. He doesn’t care if people don’t like him. But for some stupid idiotic reason, I do,” she sighed.
“Without the acceptance of Arthur’s family, your relationship with him doesn’t feel complete. You want them to see you’re worthy of being with him. Your relationship with Arthur can never go forward without their blessing.”
Gwen was quiet for a few moments.
“Gwen? Are you still there?”
“When did you get so smart, Merlin?” Gwen asked with a chuckle.
“I’ve always been smart, you’ve just failed to notice it until now,” Merlin laughed.
“Thanks for everything, Merlin. Really. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Merry Christmas.”
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Gwen startled awake. Someone shuffled in her kitchen. She glanced at her clock. It was almost past noon. She groaned and was ready to tell Merlin to stop worrying about her and get back to his mother’s house when she saw Arthur’s back hunched over her stove.
“What are you doing here?” Gwen asked sternly.
Arthur turned, spatula at hand. He tried to read Gwen’s face, but couldn’t.
“I’m making pancakes,” he said quietly.
Gwen was about to make a grand retort but stopped short. She looked around her apartment. First off, it was clean. When Gwen came into her apartment last night, a tall stack of dishes was taunting her in the sink. Her clothes were strewn across the floor. Her table was a clutter of paperwork. But now, everything was spotless.
Secondly, it was decorated beautifully. There were lights outlining every window. A grand tree stood proudly in the corner, glittering ornaments hanging artfully from each branch. Her counters were covered in trays of homemade cookies.
She was so in awe that she had to sit down just to take it all in.
“Did you do all this?” she asked, eyes glistening with wonder.
He nodded.
“Why?”
“Because I love you. And I want to make it up to you.”
“You don’t have to-”
“Yes, I do. And this Christmas, it’s just going to me and you, okay? I told my father and sister to do their own thing because if they can’t accept you into our family, then screw them. You are just as much my family as they are, even more so,” he exclaimed, taking a tentative step towards her. Gwen looked down at her hands, unable to meet Arthur’s eager gaze.
“And for once, let me do something for you. You always do everything for everyone. You’re just too damn selfless all the time, Guinevere,” he laughed softly, reaching for her hands.
“I can’t come between you and your family. You should choose them over me.”He rubbed his thumb lightly over the back of her warm hand and was about to reassure her when someone knocked on Gwen’s door. Gwen’s brow furrowed. She wasn’t expecting any company. She opened the door and stopped dead in her tracks.
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“Hello,” a booming voice said from the doorway.
“Dad?” Arthur asked, peering over Gwen’s shoulder.
“Come in, Mr. Pendragon. Morgana,” Gwen said meekly, inwardly cursing herself for choosing to wear her ratty, paint splattered sweatpants to bed.
“What are you doing here?” Arthur questioned, just as confused as Gwen.
“Well, Merlin may have called me and informed me of some things,” Morgana said, taking off her wool pea coat and cashmere scarf.
“These are for you, Gwen,” Uther said slightly distractedly, handing her a vase full of flowers. His eyes were scanning Gwen’s apartment from top to bottom.
“Oh my, they’re absolutely beautiful. Thank you,” Gwen whispered, in complete and utter shock.
“Merlin told me all the trouble you’ve been going through the past week in preparing dinner for us. Thank you,” Morgana said earnestly, putting her hand on Gwen’s shoulder.
“It’s a bit small in here, isn’t it?” Uther said, settling himself on the couch.
“Dad!” Arthur chided.
“It’s cozy, I mean,” Uther blurted.
“Why does it smell like burnt pancakes in here?” Morgana said with her nose scrunched up.
“Oh, shit! The stove! The pancakes! ” Arthur cried as he ran into the kitchen.
Gwen smiled. They were trying. The Pendragons were attempting to be nice to her. And that meant the world to her.
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“That wasn’t a disaster,” Arthur said, stroking Gwen’s back.
They were lying in Gwen’s bed, Christmas duties finally over. They both were on their sides facing one another, their faces outlined by the Christmas lights around the windows.
“You were fantastic, Arthur. Thank you,” Gwen smiled, kissing him on the tip of his nose.
He slid his hands down to her waist and pulled her closer to him.
“You too. But you’re always fantastic.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
“I guess we have Merlin to thank for today’s events. We owe him. Big time,” she replied, nuzzling his neck.
“Yeah. We’ll give him a fruitcake,” he laughed, kissing her forehead. He snaked his warm hands up her torso.
“Merry Christmas, Arthur,” she whispered into his ear.
“Merry Christmas, Guinevere,” he whispered against her lips.
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